jmr40 Wrote:
If you think you'll use it mostly for deer, with the occasional varmint hunt then 243 all the way. If it'll primarily be a varmint gun that gets pressed into service for the rare deer hunt, 223 would be a strong contender.
With the better bullets a 223 kills deer just as well at close to moderate ranges. But even the heaviest 223 bullets start losing energy fast, I wouldn't attempt a shot at deer farther than 200 with a 223 and I'd feel better if it were closer to 100. And I'd not attempt to hunt game larger than deer.
The 243 on the other hand is a legit 300-400 yard deer killer, and while not optimal, is acceptable on larger game such as bear or elk if bullets are chosen carefully and range is limited.